London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1916
Sixty-first annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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45
[1916
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
(Purulent Disease of the Eyes of Newly-born Children).
This inflammatory disease of the eyes of infants was notified in 32 instances,
of which 23 were forwarded by members of the medical profession, and 9 by
midwives, and as a result 19 cases were referred to hospitals for treatment,
while 13 were attended to in their homes by nurses.
The early notification of this disease has been of great benefit to the children, and will be the means of preventing much blindness among them. None of the attacks has resulted in loss of sight.
| Tufnell. | Upper Holloway. | Tollington. | Lower Holloway | Highbury. | Barnsbury | Islington, South-Kast. | The Borough. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases notified by Doctor | .. | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 23 |
| „ ,, by Midwife | .. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | .. | 9 |
| Cases inquired into | .. | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 32 |
| ,, treated in Hospital | .. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 19 |
| „ treated at Home | .. | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| ,, attended by Nurse | .. | 2 | .. | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
TUBERCULOSIS.
During the year 843 cases of Tuberculosis in its several forms were notified.
The attack-rate was equal to 2.72 per 1,000 of the civil population. In 1915
the number was 994, and the attack-rate 3.14 per 1,000. The decrease in the
number of notifications is being maintained, for they were 151 less than
in 1915, and 117 fewer than in 1914.
Pulmonary Phthisis.—672 cases of Pulmonary Phthisis were notified,
of which 377 were males and 295 females, and they represented an attack-rate
equal to 217 per 1,000 of the civil population. The cases notified during the
year were 108 less than in 1915.
The distribution of the disease is shown in the subjoined Table, wherein
it is seen that its highest incidence occurred in the Upper Holloway and
St. Peter's Wards, with 83 and 81 notifications respectively.